Hi friends, family, and potential strangers! My name is Michaela.

Over the last couple of years, I have had 4 surgeries, with only one of them being anticipated. Within the next few months, I will be having my 5th. The medical bills and time off work have hit hard, and while I’ve tried what I can to make ends meet, I have come to a point of asking for a little help.

In January 2024, I went to the hospital in severe pain to learn that I had sepsis and needed emergency surgery. They did a large excision of a cyst/abscess and left it open to heal from the inside out. My stay lasted 3 days on IV antibiotics before being sent home for what I thought at the time would be a full recovery. At this time, I did not have medical insurance.

Months went by, and then some more. The wound never closed. I got on an insurance plan. I was seen several times and repeatedly put on various antibiotics in an attempt to close the wound. After all failed attempts, I was scheduled with a General Surgeon for a consultation in 2025.

At my visit with Doctor Amanda Ly (general surgeon), she informed me that I would be needing another surgery. She explained her surgical plan, a full excision of the cyst and keeping me infection-free so I could be stitched up. We scheduled surgery for 9/10/25.

In August of 2025, one month before the surgery, the cyst had turned into an abscess again, putting me in unbearable pain. After calling the surgeon's office to ask them what to do, I was sent to the emergency room where I would have an emergency ER procedure. They did an incision and drainage. There was no chance of this healing, but it was effective in clearing my infection and holding me over for the big surgery.

September 10th, I went in for what I thought would be the last surgery! It went well; she removed a large amount of tissue and fully excised the cyst. I was stitched closed and sent home for a difficult and painful recovery.

I went to follow-ups with Doctor Ly weekly; we were both dedicated to getting this thing to heal! Unfortunately, we were back in the same boat. It was not healing.

This year, 2026, I was sent in for an MRI with and without contrast. Here is where they discovered a complex fistula (a tunnel from my skin to an organ) requiring another surgery. I was referred to a specialist who I’ll be seeing in just a couple of weeks to discuss the surgical plan for what could be another handful of surgeries.

On top of this recurring issue, on March 3rd of this year, I went to the ER in severe pain in my chest. I was misdiagnosed and sent home. The following day, March 4th, I ended up back in the ER where they discovered my gallbladder was infected and full of stones. They admitted me for surgery. On March 5th, they performed a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removed my gallbladder). I stayed hospitalized on IV antibiotics until March 7th.

With all of these challenges and future challenges to come, I am hoping to raise money to go towards my medical bills, which have now reached tens of thousands, help pay for my medical insurance, and potentially help catch me up on a bill or two I have been unable to pay with the time I’ve had to take off from work.

I am grateful for any donation, and extremely grateful for you taking the time to read my story! ❤️